The Brooklyn Museum’s exhibition Monet and Venice offers New York City its most significant presentation of Claude Monet’s oeuvre in over 25 years, showcasing a stunning collection of his Venetian works for the first time in more than a century. Running from October 11, 2025, through February 1, 2026, this exhibition reunites 19 of Monet's paintings created during his 1908 trip to Venice, alongside complementary artworks from earlier and contemporaneous artists who shaped the city’s artistic legacy.
Exploring Monet’s Late-Career Venice Series
Claude Monet, who famously remarked that Venice was “too beautiful to be painted,” embraced the complexities of the lagoon city to produce some of his most striking later works. The exhibition curated by Lisa Small, senior curator of European art at the Brooklyn Museum, and Melissa Buron, now chief curator at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, centers on how Monet’s Venetian canvases marked a profound transformation in his career.
The paintings vividly capture the ephemeral interplay of light, water, and architecture, enveloping iconic landmarks such as the Palazzo Ducale and the shimmering Grand Canal in a prismatic haze of color. Visitors encounter varying atmospheric conditions as Monet painted several views of the same scene, revealing subtle shifts in hue, light, and clarity—a testament to his dedication to en plein air observation.
Contextual Dialogue with Venetian Artistic Traditions
The exhibition thoughtfully situates Monet’s work in dialogue with Venetian masters like Canaletto and Turner, whose highly detailed cityscapes contrast Monet’s impressionistic approach. Monet’s Venice is notable for its absence of bustling crowds or busy boat traffic that often populate historical depictions, instead focusing on the architecture dissolving delicately into shifting light.
This comparative approach enriches the visitor’s understanding of Venice’s multifaceted representation through art history, highlighting how Monet’s late paintings push towards abstraction with fluid brushwork and dynamic surface textures.
Immersive Experience and Multisensory Engagement
Beyond traditional gallery displays, the Brooklyn Museum has incorporated innovative immersive elements, including a special fragrance inspired by Venetian lagoon air and an original musical composition by composer-in-residence Niles Luther. These enhancements create a multi-sensory environment that transports visitors to the Venetian setting Monet experienced.
While the exhibition opens with an introductory multisensory space featuring carefully curated video projections and atmospheric effects simulating sunlight on water, critics recommend diving quickly into the galleries, where intensive scholarship and some of Monet’s finest works are on display.
Monet’s Venice and its Influence on His Water Lilies
Monet’s Venetian paintings represent a late-career rejuvenation that directly impacted his subsequent and iconic Water Lilies series painted at Giverny. As Monet himself noted, the time spent in Venice sharpened his vision and reinvigorated his style, enabling new explorations of light and abstraction that have since become cultural landmarks.
The Brooklyn Museum exhibition complements these Venetian works with selections from Monet’s other water-focused series, tying together themes of reflection and atmosphere across his prodigious output.
Image Sources and Anchor-Text Links
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Visitors can experience the Monet and Venice exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum official page.
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An in-depth review and analysis of the show is available via ArtNews.
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Additional context on Monet’s Venice trip and works appears in a feature by Smithsonian Magazine.
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Immersive elements and visitor impressions covered by KSL.com.
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Video tour of the exhibition is accessible on the Brooklyn Museum’s YouTube channel.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the Monet and Venice exhibition about?
It is a major Brooklyn Museum exhibition showcasing 19 of Claude Monet's Venetian paintings, exploring how this late-career series revitalized his art and influenced his later works.
When and where can the exhibition be seen?
The show runs from October 11, 2025, to February 1, 2026, at the Brooklyn Museum in New York.
Why is this exhibition significant in New York?
It is New York’s largest Monet exhibition in over 25 years and the first focused solely on his Venetian period since 1912.
What immersive features does the exhibition include?
The museum offers a multi-sensory introduction with specially composed music, Venetian lagoon-inspired fragrances, and visual effects alongside the paintings.
How does Monet’s Venice work differ from other Venice artists?
Unlike detailed cityscapes by Canaletto, Monet’s Venice emphasizes light, color, and atmosphere with impressionistic and abstract brushstrokes, often devoid of people or boats.
Does the exhibition relate Monet’s Venice to his other paintings?
Yes, it draws connections to Monet’s water lilies and other water-themed canvases from various locations, highlighting a thematic continuum in his art.
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